Transmission mechanism.



prra

sic.

FRANK B. RAE, CLEVELAND, OHIO.

TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

Zipplicaticn filed December 9, 1912. Serial No. 735,608.

. .To all whom it may camera.-

Be it known that I, FRANK B. RAE, a

citizen ofthe United States residin at lThe object of the invention isto provide a device for effecting variation in the speed of the driven shaft from a substantially constant speed .driving shaft, the

transmission mechanism being so designed as to permit gradual and progressive change of speed, rather than abrupt changes by steps, as is the case where certain fixed assemblages of gears is employed.

The flexibility and ease of operation of a my speed control will be apparent as the description proceeds. v Generally speaking, the invention comprises the elements and combinations thereof set forth in the accompanying claims.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which Figure 1 is a sideelevation with certain portions in section of the transmission, mechanism, and devices for effecting speed changes; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of pen tions of the mechanism for effecting the speed changes; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of one of the guiding devices'for the annulus.

The mechanical principle upon which the device herein disclosed operates may-be very simply illustrated by the movements of which a coin partakes as it is spun upon a fiat surface,-more particularly when the motion of the coin is dying down and approaching a flat position on the surface upon which it is spun. Observing a coin spun as indicated, it will be noted that the coin itself has a vibratory or wabbling movement with respect to the table. That is to say, the coin apparently is wabbling .upon its periphery, and this movement or vibration is quite rapid in rate. Observation w1ll show that there is also a turning of the coin about its own central axis, but the speed of rotation about its axis is very much reduced from the speed of vibration of the coin to which reference has just been made.

In this invention, the annulus 1 may be likened to the coin. The disks 2 and 3 which are relatively fixed for any given ii1c1ina tion of the annulus, may represent the surface upon which the coin is vibrating, the two disks being used because the path of the wabbling disk is more definitely defined. The driven shaft 4 is secured to the annulus 1, at the central portion thereof. Under such conditions, if the disk l-be caused to vibrate or wabble about its central axis, this vibration w1ll result in a certain rotative movement of the annulus which will be transmitted to the shaft 4.

Having thus described the mechanical I may now speak a little more definitely of the construction herein shown as beingone embodiment of my invention. The driving shaft is indicated at 5, and upon this shaft there is secured a fixed sleeve 6, and back of this there is another sleeve 7 encircling the shaft, the last'mentioned sleeve being movable longitudinally of the shaft, but being so mount principle upon which this device operates,

ed as topartake' of the rotativ'e movement I of the driving shaft. Upon the sleeve 6 there are mounted two levers indicated at 8. These levers are pivotally secured upon the sleeve 6 by means of a pin 9. Upon the sleeve 7 there is journaled a pin 10, upon the opposite ends of which there are pivotally secured levers 11.

To the annulus there is axially secured a short shaft 12, and upon this shaft there is mounted a sleeve 13, which may freely move along the shaft. ciated withthe driving shaft 5, a sleeve 14 which is free to move along this shaft and does not rotate with it. This sleeve is adapted to be movedby any suitable mechanism, and for the purpose I have shown alever 15 pivoted at its lower end upon a standard 16. This lever has pivotal-engagement with the sleeve 14 to causemovement of the sleeve as the lever is moved. This lever may be equipped with a pawl 17 which'may be operated by the lever 18. The pawl may be associated with a notched rack 19, so that the lever may be held in adjusted position. The movement of the lever 15 will cause movement of the sleeves 14 and 7;. thereby causing the shaft 12 to assume different degrees of angularity with respect to the vertical. l

The disk 2 may conveniently bemounted upon a fixed standard 20, while the disk 3 may be carried by a standard 21, which is movable, so thatthe disks 2 and 3 may automatically assume proper position with respect to each other and to the annulus l, as

I the degree of angular-ity of the annulus 1 is changed.

For automatically causing the shifting of the disk 3, the proper amount, I have provided springs 22 which aresuitably housed in a casing 23, and bear against the reverse side of the disk 3. It will be understood that the relative position of the disks 2 and 3 is fixed for any given position of the annulus 1. The adjustability of the disks is provided to permit and accommodate a variety of positions of the annulus 1.

The lower portion of the standard 21 may be slotted to engage with a pin 21; which will limit the movements ofthe standard.

The connection between the annulus 1 and the shaft 4: is by means of a universal joint generally indicated at 24:. This universal joint may be of any desired type, and no special claim to it is here made.

The disks 2 and 3 with which the annulus 1 cooperates may be constructed in any desired or appropriate manner. I would, however, recommend that the particular portions of the disks 2 and 3 with which the annulus coiiperates. should be made of material which will have a. good friction surface, so that there will be a minimum of slipping between the annulus and the surface with which it coiiperates. I have in the drawing therefore shown the disks 2 and 3 as provided with inserted portions 2 and 3 which may be made of such material as fiber or other good frictioning material.

It will be understood that in the assemblage of elements as shown in the drawing, if the lever 15 be pushed toward the right to the position indicated at 15, the connecting levers 8 and 11 will assume a substantially horizontal position, at which time, the

.shaft 12 is in line with the driving shaft 5.

NVhen, however, the lever-15 is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. l, the shaft 1.2 is at an angle with respect to the shaft 5. The lower end of the shaft 12 being substantially upon the axis of the shaft 5, portions of the shaft 12 are therefore bodily rotated about the axis'of the shaft 5, as the last mentioned shaft is rotated, the move- ;ment of the shaft 12 generating a conical surface. The annulus 1 will partake of the movement of the shaft 12, andwill wabble or vibrate between the disks 2 and 3, and

. as heretofore explained,'this movement will produce a slight rotative movement of the annulus 1, which will be imparted to the shaft 4.

' Diflerence of angularity of the annulus 1 will produce various speed relationships between the driving and driven shafts. The

5 speed of the shafts with respect to the concreased, and conversely the speed of shaft 4 is decreased as the annulus 1 approachesnear a vertical position, and when the annulus is in a vertical position, the shaft 4 does not turn at all; because under, such constant speed of the shaft 5"1na y be increased I as the angulari'ty of the annulus 1 is inditions, there is no movement of 'the an- I the driving shaft and the annulus for Wabbling and turnin the annulus about its central axis asthe riving shaft is turned.

2. The combination with a driving shaft and a driven shaft. of an annulus mounted to have its center in line with the driving and driven shaft, operative connections between the annulus and the driven shaft,

guiding means with which the annulus co operates, and operative connections between the annulus and the driving shaft whereby the annulus may be wabble'd and turned about its center.

3. The combination with a drivingshaft and a driven shaft,-of an annulus flexibly mounted at its central portion to the driven shaft and having its center in line with the driving shaft, operative connections between the driving shaft and the annulus for web- 'bling and turning the annulus about its central axis as the driving shaft is turned, said operative connections being adjustable to vary the degree of \vabbling and rotation of the annulus.

4. The combination with a driving shaft and a driven shaft, of an inclined annulus, the center of the annulus being in line with the driving and driven shafts, spaced guiding disks with which the said annulus cooperates, operative connections between the annulus and'the driven shaft, and operative connections between the annulus and the driving shaft, whereby the annulus is wabbled as the driving shaft is turned.

5. The combination with a driving shaft and a driven shaft, of an inclined annulus, guiding means with which said annulus cooperates, the center of the annulus being in line with the driving and driven shafts, operative connections between the driven shaft and the. annulus,-a short shaft connected at right angles to the plane of the annulus,

operative connections between the driving shaft, andthe said short shaft, whdreby the 1,15a,see

annulus is wabbled as the driving shaft is turned.

6. In combination with a driving shaft and a driven shaft, of an inclined annulus mounted to" have its center in line with the center of the driving and driven shafts, guiding means with which the annulus 00- operates, operative connections between the annulus and the driven shaft, operative connections between the annulus and the driving vshaft, whereby the disk is Wabbled as the driving shaft is turned, said connections being adjustable to vary the inclination of the said inclined annulus.

7. The combinationwith a driving shaft, and a driven shaft, of an inclined annulus mounted to have its center in line with the center of said shafts, guiding means 006perating with the annulus, operative connections between the driven shaft and the annu- ,the'plane thereof, a sleeve upon the short shaft, a fixed sleeve upon the driving shaft,

a movable sleeve upon the driving shaft, leversconnecting the sleeves upon the drivingshaft, .with the sleeve upon the short shaft, means for varying the position of the movable sleeve upon the driving shaft, sub- I stantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. FRANK B. RAE. Witnesses:

A. J. HUDSON, N. C. HUBBARD. 

